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MAY 1, 2015
Century celebration
2010 – The new Trib-
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at the corner of McPher-
son and Grand Ronde
roads was preparing
to open. The new $1
million facility will be
operated by West Valley
Fire District and pro-
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cy medical services 24
File photo
hours a day, seven days
a week, and eliminate
the wait for emergency medical services to arrive from Willamina.
2005 – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde joined the Port
of Portland and the Farmers Irrigation District in Hood River as
winners of Stewardship and Conservation Awards from the Oregon
Water Resources Division. The Tribe’s award was for its numerous
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secure approval of an endangered species management plan.
2000 – Tualatin Riverkeepers honored the Tribe at its second
annual Green Heron Award in the community group category for
providing the blessing and offerings for Ki-A-Kuts Falls. The naming
ceremony for the falls occurred on June 21, 1999, and the falls were
named after the 19th century Kalapuyan chief.
1995 – Eric Webster joined the Tribe as the new dentist. He grew
up and went to dental school in the Kansas City area. He relocated
to the Portland area in June 1992 for a one-year residency, which
resulted in his eventual permanent move to Oregon.
1990 – Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier presented Betty Commer-
ford, Grand Ronde postmaster, a Pendleton blanket on behalf of the
Tribe as she prepared to retire.
1985 – A total of 208 ballots were counted in the Tribal Council
election for all nine seats. Those elected were Kathryn Harrison,
Henry Petite, Darrell Mercier, Eula Petite, Merle Leno, Mark Mer-
cier, Candy Robertson and Cheryle A. Kennedy. There was a tie for
the last seat between Russell Leno and Frank Harrison, and Leno
won a tie-breaker.
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Elder Opal Davidson looks at her 100th
birthday congratulatory letter from President
Barack Obama as her caretaker Carmen Parren
reads it to her during her birthday party at the
Elders Activity Center on Sunday, April 19, the
day she turned 100. She eagerly awaited the arrival of the letter.
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increments through the pages of Smoke Signals.
Tribal Elder Opal Davidson looks at a charm bracelet that was a
birthday present from her children and grandchildren for her 100th
birthday. The bracelet was given to her during her birthday party at the
Elders Activity Center on Sunday, April 19. Helping her with the bracelet
is her daughter-in-law Eyvette Davidson, left, and her daughter Terri
Wood, right.
Chinuk Family Night
May 7, 2015
5:15 - 7:00 pm
Chachalu
Students from the Chinuk Wawa
class at Willamina High School
have written and illustrated
chinuk wawa books which will
be presented.
Logo designs wanted
Organizers of this year’s Veterans Summit to be held July 9-10 at
Uyxat Powwow Grounds, 9390 Highway 22, are seeking logo design
submissions.
Deadline for submission is Friday, May 15. Submissions should
be sent to Tribal Social Services Director Dave Fullerton at dave.
fullerton@grandronde.org. For more information, contact Fullerton
at 503-879-2036.
This year’s Veterans Summit, the third consecutive one to be held
in Grand Ronde, has a theme of “Honoring Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans.” Prizes for the creator of the selected logo are $50 and a
Pendleton blanket. Q
Dinner will be provided.
Please RSVP to Land & Culture
Department at 503-879-2226.
Cover art of pHupHup (owl) written
by Logan DiBetta. This book was
voted by the students as “Best Art”.
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Land and Culture Department
8720 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
Phone: 503-879-2226
Fax: 503-879-2126
E-mail: landandculture@grandronde.org
Housing installs stop
signs, changes speed limit
The Grand Ronde Housing Department has installed two new stop signs
near the welcome center, as well as changed the speed limit in Tribal
housing from 35 mph to 25 mph.
For more information, contact Homeownership Coordinator Vicki Jones
at 503-879-1465. Q